Preparing, Cleaning and Preserving your Fossils

Your job to clean and preserve your fossils is just as important as the paleontologists who find them. When you don’t look after them, they deteriorate and we lose a little bit of history each time. Fossils are often some of the oldest physical pieces of evidence that organisms lived millions of years ago. Therefore, by following our useful tips you will know exactly how to clean fossils at home.

Expert technique is required when preparing and cleaning your fossils, to guarantee full preservation of these wonderfully rare pieces of history.

Cleaning Fossils

Before you start cleaning, you will need the following equipment:

  • Warm water
  • Washing detergent
  • Toothbrush or other nylon brush
  • Dental tools/pins
  • Soft paintbrush
  • Microscope (if possible) or a magnifying glass

The use of these instruments depends on the type of fossil, is it hard and rigid or is it fragile?

The first step of cleaning any fossil, and especially delicate ones, is to place it on a stable, soft surface such as a sandbag.This will keep it sturdy and ensure you do not make any mistakes that cause damage to the fossil. You should also use a microscope or magnifying glass to provide a better view and lower the chance of mistakes.

Cleaning Fragile Fossils

E.g. Ammonites, Trilobites

When cleaning fragile fossils, you will realise that they are a bit more tricky than harder ones, because they are delicate and require detailed concentration. Some of the sediment or matrix may be harder to get to with fragile Fossils, like trilobites which have hundreds of tiny crevices.

The next step is to get a soft paintbrush, but very importantly, not a toothbrush. A toothbrush’s hard bristles will scratch the delicate surface of a fragile fossil that has been found in shale.

Now use the paintbrush and gently remove any sediment on the fossil and blow away. Repeat this process, or use a dental pick to remove any remaining sediment.

Ammonite fossil

Cleaning Hard & Rigid Fossils (Concretions)

E.g. Teeth, Bones

The best way to start cleaning harder fossils is to rinse them under warm water with detergent.

Next, use a nylon brush such as a hard-bristled toothbrush under running water and begin scrubbing off any left-behind sediment. While this method will almost always work with Brachiopods, some teeth and bones may be fragile so do not use this method.

Using a toothbrush is a great, accessible way in which you can clean fossils, without having to buy some of the harder-to-find instruments. Be firm but gentle, this time, and begin to extract the dirt and sediment away.

Once the sediment has been cleared from the fossils, the next step is to get them prepared so you can show them off in your collection. Fossil preparation is the best way in which you can make your collection look as stunning as those you see in museums.

Concretion fossils often just require a soak in water and detergent to push out any remaining sediment. Again, avoid using water with gastropods, ammonites etc. as we want to preserve their mother of pearl (nacre) layer. This will give the fossils an immaculately clean look, ready for presentation.

Key Takeaways

Remember to always try these methods on broken or non-important fossils first before trying on your collection. This will ensure you don’t destroy your fossils and allows you to attempt the methods beforehand.

If you are not sure whether the fossil is hard or fragile, always be super careful and do not use any tools on it that you are not sure about.

And finally, why not step up your collection by taking a look at our range of pre-prepared fossils, gemstones, meteorites and much more that can be found across our site.